Marco Vargas, Photo by Ed Delany of Mets Minors
25. INF Marco Vargas
B/T: L/R Age: 20
Ht: 5’11″ Wt: 170 lb
ETA: 2027
Acquired: 2023 via trade
2025 Stats: .234/.316/.401/.717
Marco Vargas was acquired by the Mets in the trade that sent David Robertson to the Marlins. In 2024, Vargas struggled with wrist tendonitis as well as hamstring issues, limiting him to only 37 games total. He played 108 games in 2025, dominating his first few weeks in Low-A to a .409/.527/.545/1.073 slash but struggled in High-A, hitting .239/.328/.296/.624. He did still walk 11.8% of the time and stole 38 bags across 95 games. He was on the younger end for High-A, and entering 2026 is a full year removed from injury with the opportunity to take a step forward. It should also be noted that Brooklyn’s ballpark has been known to be very difficult for left-handed hitters to perform in and see the ball properly.
When Vargas was acquired, the expectation was that his outstanding bat-to-ball skills, strong strike-zone judgement, and all-fields approach would develop into a 60-grade hit tool. His plus discipline is still evident, and his contact rates are still on the plus side, but his overall quality of contact is below expected, leading to a hit tool that projects more in the 45 to 50 range. At 20 years old, though, he still has time to improve his bat speed and swing decisions. Vargas is a hit-over-power type player, so improving that hit tool is imperative.
Defensively, he can handle both second base and shortstop, but likely profiles better at second base. He does have plus range and a plus arm, and he is an above-average base runner. At this point, Vargas likely profiles better as a utility infielder in the majors than as an everyday player. A potential comp in the majors could be Chase Meidroth of the White Sox.
24. Jonathan Pintaro
B/T: R/R Age: 28
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 235 lb
ETA: Debuted in 2025
Acquired: 2024 Minor League Deal
2025 Stats: 4.28 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 29% K%
Jonathan Pintaro was not selected in the 2022 draft and signed with the Glacier Range Riders of the Pioneer League. He initially struggled in 2023, but in 2024, he pitched to a 4.01 ERA and 1.176 WHIP before signing a minor league deal with the Mets in June 2024. Pintaro ended 2024 with one appearance in Triple-A and then spent most of 2025 split between Double-A and Triple-A, with a single appearance in the majors.
Pintaro’s stuff is better than his results have been, and if he were younger, he might be higher on prospect lists. In Triple-A, he ran a 29.3% whiff rate and 24.8% chase rate. He limited contact in the zone and generated an above-average ground ball rate at 42.9%. He struggled heavily with control, with a 15.7% walk rate. He can also be susceptible to left-handed hitters, though he dominates right-handed hitters.
Pintaro throws from a low arm slot, giving him a deceptive release. He throws three fastballs, an above-average spin four-seam fastball at 95.5 MPH, a 90.3 MPH cutter, and a 94.7 MPH sinker with heavy arm-side movement. He also throws a high spin sweeper and an 87 MPH changeup, both of which generate whiffs. His cutter and sweeper are his best pitches. His pitch profile is somewhat similar to Michael King’s, though King has much better command and control. His future role may be more as a reliever than a starter unless he improves his control. He could make an impact in the majors in 2026.
23. Yovanny Rodriguez
B/T: R/R Age: 19
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 175 lb
ETA: 2030
Acquired: 2024 International Free Agency
2025 Stats: .331/.446/.493/.939
Yovanny Rodriguez was ranked number 7 on MLB Pipeline’s international list for 2024 and was considered the best catcher in the class. Some scouts at the time felt Rodriguez was an advanced hitter for his age and showed sound strike-zone judgement with power potential to develop into a 20-plus homer threat.
Rodriguez repeated the Dominican Summer League in 2025 and slashed .331/.446/.493/.939, though some hit tool concerns did show with his 66.5% contact rate. Compare that to a player like Josuar Gonzelez, number 44 on Pipeline’s Top 100, who had a 78.9% contact rate, you can see the stark difference. Even the Mets’ own Eilan Pena, who had a good but not great contact rate, was at 72.6%. This is not a kiss of death at age 18, but definitely something to keep an eye on as he gets older. He did show strong raw power, even if it did not translate to home runs.
Behind the plate is where Rodriguez truly projects to shine. He profiles with a plus throwing arm, but he allowed 74 stolen bases to only 10 caught. This seems to be more of an experience issue than a skill issue, though. He is not yet a polished defender, but he has a strong work ethic that, with experience, should help him develop into an above-average defender at the catcher position.
22. Randy Guzman
B/T: R/R Age: 20
Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 215 lb
ETA: 2028
Acquired: 2022 International Free Agency
2025 Stats: .302/.375/.524/.898
Randy Guzman, younger brother of former Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman, powered his way to Low-A in 2025. If there is one prospect that could challenge Mets prospect Ryan Clifford for the best power in the Mets system, it is Guzman. He does chase too much, but when he makes contact, it is loud contact.
Guzman’s 90% percent exit velocity (EV) of 108.8 MPH was in the 100th percentile in Low-A in 2025. His Average EV was in the 95th at 91.3 MPH, and his 111.9 MPH Max EV was in the 92nd percentile. His 82% zone-contact was above average, showing that when he did swing in the zone, he made consistent contact – he just swung out of the zone too frequently, leading to his poor 5.6% walk rate. His overall contact was in the 63rd percentile, but his selectivity was in the 4th percentile. He is still young and can develop better discipline, which he will need to do. Otherwise, he may consistently be beaten by upper-level breaking balls. But the raw power is a lot to build on.
Defensively, he is likely a first baseman long term, but he has mixed in corner outfield work and some third base. He is not a strong runner, which limits his range. He has a strong work ethic, which helped him make adjustments and bounce back from his struggles in 2023 and 2024. If he continues to make adjustments, he could skyrocket up these rankings.
21. R.J. Gordon
B/T: R/R Age: 24
Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 195 lb
ETA: 2026
Acquired: 2024 13th Round Draft Selection
2025 Stats: 3.64 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 27.3% K%
R.J. Gordon ended 2025 in Double-A and could make his debut in the majors at some point in 2026. Gordon missed his junior year of college after undergoing an internal brace procedure on his elbow and then struggled heavily as a senior with a 5.13 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. At the time he was drafted, he threw a low 90s fastball, a low 80s changeup, and a high 70s MPH curve/slider combo that often bled into each other.
Across the 2025 season, Gordon showed an ability to hold his fastball velocity at 95 MPH deeper into starts, developed a kick changeup into a very low spin pitch with arm-side life, and turned his slider into a pitch he can command to strikes. He now throws a slider in the mid 80s and sometimes changes the shape to a version with more sweep. He mixes in his mid-70s curveball occasionally as well.
Gordon has much better command of his pitches than when he was drafted and has grown into a command-and-control pitcher rather than a power pitcher. He pitched primarily as a starter in 2025, and his 147 strikeouts trailed only Jonah Tong among Mets minor league players. He did not give up much of his early-season gains when he was promoted to Double-A, and his strong command should help him adapt to the major leagues. He will likely be promoted to Triple-A in 2026, making him only a phone call away from the majors.
